Radical Mastectomy Increases Psychological Distress in Young Breast Cancer Patients: Results of A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to detect the factors associated with psychological distress (PD) in young Moroccan patients with breast cancer, with a special focus on the type of surgical procedure.

METHODS

We collected social, demographic, and clinical data from female patients, aged < 45 years, with localized stage breast cancer who had undergone either radical mastectomy or conservative surgery and for whom adjuvant chemotherapy was indicated. We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess the psychological status. The relationship between the variables and PD was analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 122 women were enrolled, of whom 41 (33.6%) had a HADS global score ≥ 15. The HAD anxiety and depression subscores were ≥ 11 for 10 (8.2%) and 8 (6.6%) patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis, adjusted for marital status and receipt of analgesic and/or anxiolytic treatment, we found that radical mastectomy (odds ratio [OR], 5.747; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.342-24.608), living in a difficult emotional (OR, 7.366; 95% CI, 1.727-31.41) and/or financial (OR, 16.521; 95% CI, 3.574-76.36) situation, and a lack of social and/or family support (OR, 19.617; 95% CI, 3.549-108.43) were independent factors associated with PD.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast-conserving surgery should be performed whenever possible for young women to avoid the psychological repercussions of radical procedures.